Caffeine in pills - for weight loss

The instructions do not indicate any indications for the use of caffeine in weight loss tablets: this purine alkaloid methylxanthine belongs to the group of psychostimulants that affect the central nervous system.

Common names for caffeine include: 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine (chemical); sodium caffeine benzoate or caffeine tribenzoate (pharmaceutical); alternatives include methyltheobromine, theine, and guaranine.

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Indications of caffeine in diet pills

Indications for the use of sodium caffeine benzoate cover a range of diseases of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems with spasms, decreased vascular tone and blood pressure, as well as narcolepsy and asthenic conditions with increased fatigue, drowsiness and general loss of strength.

In addition, sodium caffeine benzoate (caffeine in tablets) began to be used for weight loss, since its mechanism of action extends not only to certain functions of the autonomic nervous system, but also to metabolic processes, which are controlled by the brain with the help of neurotransmitters (chemical substances that transmit impulses).

Release form

The release form of caffeine sodium benzoate is tablets, powder, injection solution (10 and 20%) in ampoules.

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Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacodynamics: How Caffeine Helps Burn Fat

The mechanism of action, i.e. the pharmacodynamics of caffeine-sodium benzoate, is based on several biochemical processes. First, caffeine inhibits the effector cellular enzyme phosphodiesterase, which regulates the transmission of intracellular signals, and this is reflected in an increase in the concentration of the generating hormone cAMP - cyclic adenosine monophosphate. As a result, cAMP increases the activity of fat cell (adipocyte) enzymes that break down triglycerides, and thus the intensity of lipolysis in visceral adipose tissue cells increases.

An important role is played by the similarity of the chemical structure of caffeine (methylated purine base xanthine) with the molecular structure of adenosine, a purine neurotransmitter produced by the body that inhibits brain excitation. Caffeine molecules can bind to adenosine receptors in brain cells and prevent them from being activated, i.e. they act as a competitive antagonist. But for the fat burning process, the key is that this antagonism promotes the release and activation of catecholamine neurotransmitters, including adrenaline.

Adrenaline acts on the membrane adrenoreceptors of adipose tissue cells and also stimulates enzymes involved in the breakdown of triglycerides.

In addition, the effect of caffeine in diet pills is associated with its diuretic effect, which occurs due to the inhibition of water reabsorption in the renal tubules. However, an increase in urine volume is observed only at a dose of caffeine greater than 300 mg.

Caffeine, like most psychostimulants, suppresses appetite, that is, it delays the signal of hunger, but the mechanism of this effect is still unknown.

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Pharmacokinetics

Caffeine sodium benzoate is well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract (within 30-45 minutes), enters the systemic bloodstream (the bond with serum proteins does not exceed 15%) and is distributed in tissues and interstitial fluids; penetrates the blood-brain barrier.

More than 90% of caffeine is metabolized by the liver's enzymatic system by demethylation and oxidation to active and inactive metabolites. Among the primary active dimethylxanthines, paraxanthine plays a special role in activating lipolysis, under the influence of which the content of glycerol and free fatty acids in blood plasma increases.

The drug does not accumulate. The half-life of the biotransformation products of caffeine-sodium benzoate is on average 4.5-6 hours; excretion is through the kidneys (with urine) and through the intestines (with feces).

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Dosing and administration

Caffeine in diet pills is taken orally, but there are different approaches regarding its dosage.

Some recommendations call for taking 100 mg per 30 kg of body weight, and only before physical exercise (40-45 minutes); others claim that the optimal dose is 10-20 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Some sources indicate the maximum single dose of caffeine in tablets as 400 mg, and the daily dose as 1 g.

The American Medical Association considers a moderate dose of caffeine to be 200-300 mg per day. Half of this amount is recommended to be taken a quarter of an hour before breakfast (thereby reducing appetite for at least half a day), the second dose - 15-20 minutes before lunch (but not later than 4 p.m.).

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Use of caffeine in diet pills during pregnancy

Caffeine crosses the placenta and enters breast milk, for this reason its use during pregnancy and lactation is contraindicated.

Contraindications

Caffeine sodium benzoate is contraindicated in patients with a history of increased sensitivity to caffeine, CNS hyperexcitability, epilepsy, organic cardiovascular pathologies, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, arterial hypertension, chronic insomnia, glaucoma. The drug is not used in the elderly and in children under 12 years of age.

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Side effects of caffeine in diet pills

The main side effects of caffeine in tablets are expressed in the form of nervousness, tremor, headache, sleep disorders, cardiac arrhythmia, increased blood pressure, nausea, pain in the epigastric region. Allergic reactions with urticaria and skin itching are possible.

A significant increase in diuresis can lead to dehydration. Also, with prolonged use of caffeine-sodium benzoate, there is a risk of developing dependence - caffeinism. And with a sharp cessation of intake, increased drowsiness and depressive state are possible.

Overdose

Excessive dosage of caffeine sodium benzoate leads to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, nervous overexcitement, increased pulse rate, feeling of heat, tremors and convulsions.

In case of overdose, it is necessary to wash out the stomach, take activated charcoal; in case of convulsions, intravenous injections of anticonvulsants are given, in particular, benzodiazepines.

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Interactions with other drugs

Sodium caffeine benzoate enhances the effect of analgesics (non-opioid), antipyretics, alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists, and thyroid-stimulating drugs.

Caffeine reduces the effect of tranquilizers, opioid painkillers, sedatives and sleeping pills.

Hormonal contraceptives enhance the effect of caffeine; antibiotics slow down the elimination of caffeine and increase its concentration in blood plasma.

The use of caffeine simultaneously with cardiac glycosides increases not only their therapeutic effect, but also side effects.

Caffeine is absolutely incompatible with drugs that depress the central nervous system, in particular, general anesthetics.

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Storage conditions

Caffeine sodium benzoate should be stored at room temperature, out of the reach of children.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of the drug is 4 years.

Reviews

Real reviews of those who have lost weight and the results are not published in accessible sources, apparently due to the fact that sodium caffeine benzoate is not advertised by the pharmaceutical companies that produce it.

And the few reviews from doctors conclude that caffeine may help reduce weight slightly or prevent weight gain, but "there is no convincing evidence that caffeine use leads to significant or permanent weight loss."